‘You’ve made this place better’: Retiring Vernon Hills assistant village manager lauded for decades of service

He was on the list to be a Chicago cop, but with a two-year wait, U.S. Army veteran Jon Petrillo was told getting experience elsewhere in the interim would be beneficial.

At that time in the early 1990s, Vernon Hills was growing but quiet, still surrounded by farm fields. It wasn’t the place that someone who had served as a paratrooper while on active duty and an international peacekeeper in the Middle East wanted to land.

“When I came here, I felt like a cop in a cornfield,” he said on his pending retirement next week after nearly 33 years — in different capacities — with the village. “Someone told me, 'Hang in there. This place is going to be great.'”

He did, ultimately spending about 25 years on the police force and 10 as its deputy chief before leaving in 2017 for a position with the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

After being ousted in a reorganization following an election two years later, Petrillo returned to Vernon Hills in civilian clothes as assistant village manager during a tumultuous time and stayed another seven years.

It wasn't always smooth sailing as the village weathered economic downturns, administrative issues and retirements that drained valuable institutional knowledge and expertise.

The assistant village manager position had just opened and Petrillo was called back — and enthusiastically approved by the village board — by Mark Fleischhauer, his former boss and police chief.

Fleischhauer had retired but returned to replace former Village Manager John Kalmar, who had been forced to resign under reasons that were not publicly disclosed.

Through it all, including the subsequent rebuilding of the administrative team, Petrillo has been the all-around go-to guy, behind-the-scenes organizer, veteran resource, trusted friend, and champion of seniors and veterans, supporters say.

“Jon was the glue that kept us together,” said Police Chief Patrick Kreis, who took over in 2017 after Fleischhauer retired. “He was always there as a resource for every one of us.”

Kreis was among many well-wishers voicing similar sentiments during a 40-minute recognition for Petrillo at the Dec. 9 village board meeting.

“A great employee is a privilege. A loyal employee is a privilege. But a Jon Petrillo is a unicorn,” said village Trustee Michael Schenk. “You've made this place better.”

Village Manager Kevin Timony said Petrillo left a distinctive mark on the village by being a steady hand, problem solver, mentor and an example of what public service should look like.

“Throughout his career, Jon has consistently chosen the path of humility and service — putting the needs of our residents, his co-workers and the community above his own,” he said.

“Jon's quiet reliability and deep sense of responsibility is rare,” he added.

With thatm Timony called him to the podium with a surprise announcement: the village had established the Jonathan E. Petrillo Public Service Award, a new employee recognition with Petrillo as the inaugural recipient.

“This new award will be a high honor, reserved for only the most exceptional individuals — those whose careers reflect the same integrity, leadership, selflessness and lifelong commitment to public service that you have demonstrated,” Timony said.

Kate Buggy, assistant village administrator/human resources director in Bloomingdale, was selected from among 150 applicants to replace Petrillo. She starts Jan. 21.